“I’d like to know where this smart boy is now,” grumbled Grandpa.
The door bell rang again, and everyone was near the front door at once. Only Pavlik, who couldn’t turn around in his wheel-chair quickly and Vovka’s Mama who stayed in the kitchen.
“That’s not him,” she whispered. Every mother has the ability of recognizing her children without even seeing them.
“Hi!” They heard a cheerful voice of a woman. “Where is our favourite Cheese Boy?”
“Indeed,” there came another voice, low and loud. “Where is he?”
When all the words were said and all the pills were taken, the whole company sat round the table again.
“I think,” Uncle’s voice was booming in the kitchen, “we’ve got to call the police.”
“Do you think they will search for him?” asked Vovka’s Mama hopefully. “The day is not finished yet, and usually they start searching when a person has been missing for three days.”
“Usually eight-year-old boys don’t disappear in broad daylight,” argued Uncle. “And yes, they don’t search for three days, but that’s for missing grown-ups. As for children, they start searching immediately after your call. Of course, the police will search for him, and they will certainly find him. So, let’s call right now.” And he called 02 immediately.
Uncle was right; they took the call about the missing boy at once and promised to send a district officer to take Vovka’s photos (they were necessary to give the boy’s description to all the police in the city). That was the way they did it when a person had to be found quickly. They would give his description to all the policemen on duty. Then wherever the missing person went, he would surely meet a policeman, and the latter would recognize him according to his description.
After the call everybody got a bit relaxed and started waiting for the district officer.
“Please, help yourself,” offered Vovka’s Mama. “We’ve already had our pills, but the tea is absolutely cold. Grandma, here are your favourite biscuits. Grandpa, nibble your sooshkas; Vova bought it for you specially. Lena, Pavlusha, do help yourself and feel at home, let me give you more hot tea. And why are you not eating?” she asked Aunt and Uncle.
“Thank you,” said Uncle absent-mindedly and put a slice of cheese in his mouth. It tasted a little strange, but Uncle didn’t pay any attention to that. “If only we had children,” he thought, “they would grow together with Vovka, and he wouldn’t feel that lonely. And we wouldn’t worry now, not knowing where the child is and what’s happened to him. All that happened because he was alone. Everybody was busy and no one had time… Yes, if only we had a child, everything would be different.” But Uncle didn’t say these words aloud, because he knew what Aunt would say to all that.
